Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan has been criticised for dismissing a report from the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland which recommended banning junk food and fizzy drinks from schools.
 
The their policy paper, the RCPI warned that it’s “time to protect vulnerable children in particular from slick advertising and marketing campaigns to promote foods and drinks that contribute to obesity by imposing a ban”.
 
When questioned about the issue, the minister admitted a ban is not on the cards.
 
“Banning things can be difficult. It doesn’t necessarily stop practices I think right across Irish society that can be the case but I think education about healthy options and providing healthy options is actually the best way in which we can achieve results,” the minister stated.
 
The government hasn’t commented on the other proposals by the RCPI to reduce childhood obesity, including a ban on advertising unhealthy food and drinks to children, and the introduction of a 20% tax on sugary drinks.
 
Professor Donal O’Shea, consultant endocrinologist and co-chair of the policy group on obesity said that “action to address the obesity epidemic must approach this issue from the earliest stages.”
 
 We must give our children the best chance for a healthy diet and lifestyle. This means, among other things, that children should be protected from advertising and marketing of foods and drinks known to increase overweight and obesity.
 
He particularly points his finger at Coca Cola’s ‘Share a Coke’ campaign which, despite pledging not to market to children under 12, has nearly all of the 100 most popular names for 7-8 year olds.
 
“This is the food and drinks industry at its best – a hugely successful campaign – and one that fails to meet Coca Cola’s own standards for responsible marketing. The consumption of sugar sweetened drinks is a major driver of childhood weight – and as such there should be a ban on the marketing of these, and similar products, to children.”

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